My Lolo

Cornelio Tigas Vicente
September 13, 1907 - October 6, 2001

Today is my Lolo's birthday. He would have been 100 years old today. I have so many happy memories of my Lolo. Way too many to post here. I've been collecting these memories in order to include them in a scrapbook. If anyone has anything they want to add, I would love to include them in the scrapbook.

My Lolo was and always will be the love of my life. I remember him as always being there with me and for me. I never had one angry or negative thought about him, and I'm sure everyone will say the same thing. He was always so supportive of me and I admit, he did spoil me. I wonder if he ever knew how much I love him. I feel as though I could have done more or said more to show my love for him. All I know is that there is no other granddaughter in the world who has as much love for their grandfather than I do.

I remember the very last time we were together. We were sitting at the airport terminal waiting for my Lola to get back from the emergency room to cut the ring off her swollen finger that she squeezed in a door. They were going to leave to head back home to the Philippines. I was about 5 1/2 months pregnant with Tyler and I was walking around in my high-heeled boots that I was wearing all day at work.

Lolo scolded me that I should not be walking too much and made me sit on the wheelchair that was assigned to Lola. I didn't know what to say to him, except "I love you, Lolo. I'm going to miss you." And I held his hand the entire time. I never spoke to him again after that, as he cannot hear very well on the phone whenever I called home. I wasn't able to see him one last time or attend his funeral.

I watched his funeral video again. My mom wasn't sure of his DOB. However, before I knew it I forgot about checking the dates and started watching it. And I wept just like I did when I first saw it. I know he is with me - and Tito Pate, Lolo Mat, my Dad and my Lola, too - because I carry them in my mind and in my prayers, and most especially, in my heart. But yet, I miss my Lolo very much.

Lola and Lolo at 722 Larch Avenue, Teaneck, NJ
Lola, me, and Lolo in front of Rockafellar Center 1972

Happy Birthday, Tito Pate!

September 12th is my beloved uncle's birthday. He passed away 3 years ago. I was blessed to have him in my life. I was also very lucky to have spent some time with him just a mere 3 1/2 months before his passing. I left the Philippines on May 8th. He and my paternal grandfather died within days of each
other that same year.





Lolo Mat and Tito Pate, I miss you! I'm happy to have spent time with you one last time! It was 23 years since I last saw my grandfather and about 15 years since I last saw Tito Pate. What a reunion!

Contact me!

Can't seem to find a contact button on here . . . so if you need me, HRH Albie Francisco -

albie@typedrecordingsinc.com

I Will Always Remember

Although this happened six years ago, it still feels like it just happened. I may have moved half a country away, and nobody here really understands the impact of that morning. I remember it like it was just last week.

Alan has not started school yet because he was waiting for his records to come from the Philippines. Terrence walked off to school and it was a nice mild, breezy, sunny day. I remember Tyler was a little over 2 years old. We both were up early with Rodney and then got Terrence ready for school. My mom went to work that morning and Alan was still asleep. So Tyler and I went back to bed. I looked at the clock, it was 8:38 AM.

Alan woke me up a little bit after 11, and yelling, "Ate, the Twin Towers is gone. The Pentagon - gone!" I was a bit dazed and he turned the channel to the the closest channel that was showing the news. Of course, we were glued to the television for days and even weeks afterward. The people was what I was concerned about. How bad was it in there that people chose to jump? I have asked myself that question over and over throughout the years. Everytime there was an email or something in the news about wearing red or light a candle outside your house or display the American flag or observe a moment of silence, of course, we did those things because of the poor innocent victims that we saw before the collapse jumping or waving out the window - and then ... they were gone!

I read many books about that day, bought the DVDs. I even did a few transcripts in preparation for these books, movies, and documentaries. And even then, when I felt such grief for those victims and their families, that was nothing.

Just a few weeks ago, I came across this YouTube video of a transcript of a 9-1-1 call from Kevin Cosgrove [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE9TLgCVLBM]. The audio was used during the trial of one of the "replacement" hijackers, who is now serving a life sentence for that conviction. Listening to that recording, I cried like it just happened.

My prayers are with Kevin Cogrove, his family, and the many other voiceless souls! Not just today on 9/11, but always. That recording has changed my life. Listen to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE9TLgCVLBM